Africa Oye Announces North West Acts For Support Slots At 2015 Festival

Africa Oye Announces North West Acts For Support Slots At 2015 Festival

With the UK's largest FREE celebration of African music and culture just one month away, Africa Oyé have announced two North West based acts for their main stage line-up.

7-piece neo soul band Pieces of a Man and the multi-talented singer/rapper/producer Merki Waters will form the first ever Oyé Introduces portion of the festival - an initiative to support local up-and-coming artists in the North West.

Pieces of a Man, who kick off the Saturday of the festival, have a mission statement to show soul, no matter the stakes, by creating music of real character and intention. Influences include neo-soul heavyweights D’Angelo, Dwele, Omar, Robert Glasper and Jill Scott, as well as more traditional soul staples like Stevie Wonder and Gil Scott-Heron.

“This band grooves with a vocal which will stop you in your tracks" - BBC Radio Manchester

Opening the festival Sunday, 25 year old Singer/Songwriter/Rapper and Producer, Merki Waters is one of the UK’s outstanding up and coming artists, noted for his creative lyricism and superb vocal delivery. With sharp biting commentary and the aspirations and hopes of a generation put to pulsating grooves and stirring melodies you are taken on a lyrical and musical journey throughout a live show that inspires.

"Merki is a proposition like few others in Liverpool. Rapper, singer, producer but ultimately pop artist with a vast palette and Sefton Park is his canvas to exploit" - Peter Guy, Getintothis

Merki is also a founder of the Lab Music Foundation which has been providing services to meet some of the needs of underprivileged local acts in Liverpool in the form of music workshops, performance training, audio/video recording, showcase events as well as providing a YouTube platform ‘Lab TV’ which is now the largest urban media broadcaster in the North West of England, showcasing video content of rappers, singers and musicians.

The main stage acts will be complemented by the usual eclectic 'Oyé Village' featuring an array of foods from across the globe, traders, DJs, dance classes and workshops in the Active Zone, as well as kids entertainment to keep Sefton Park buzzing throughout the festival weekend.

Africa Oyé 2015 Live Line-Up

Omar (UK)

Frankie Paul (Jamaica)

BKO Quintet (Mali)

Diabel Cissokho (Senegal)

Gordon Masiala and NKA Musica (DR Congo)

Lindigo (Réunion)

Derito (Angola)

Sarabi (Kenya)

Cumbia All Stars (Peru)

Modou Toure and Ramon Goose (Senegal/UK)

Oyé Introduces...

Pieces of a Man (UK)

Merki Waters (UK)

Africa Oyé 2015

Sefton Park, Liverpool

Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st June 2015

12:30pm - 9:30pm both days /Admission: FREE (no ticket required)

Funded by Arts Council England and Liverpool City Council 

Africa Oye adds iconic DJ and broadcaster Andy Kershaw to their main stage line-up

Africa Oye adds iconic DJ and broadcaster Andy Kershaw to their main stage line-up

Following the reveal of their live bands and artists for this June's festival in Sefton Park, Africa Oye have added iconic discjockey and broadcaster, Andy Kershaw to their main stage line-up.

As revealed in the Liverpool Echo earlier today, the former BBC Radio 1 and Radio 3 personality, who holds more Gold Sony Radio Awards than any other broadcaster, will perform an hour long DJ set on the Sunday of the festival, showcasing the variety of World Music that fans of his will have enjoyed for the last 30 years.

For many in Britain, Kershaw's Radio 1 show will have been the gateway to their first taste of music from Africa. In 1985, he was invited by the station to present his own show with a free choice of music. As his own tastes evolved so did the content of the radio show. Meeting the musicologist and Radio 3 presenter Lucy Duran and the first appearance of Zimbabwe’s Bhundu Boys in the UK tipped Andy heavily into African music.

Esa Williams makes a welcome return to Oye this June

Kershaw will also be joined by two other stellar DJs on the main stage across the festival weekend. To keep Sefton Park buzzing in between the live artists, Oye is very pleased to welcome back DJ Edu (BBC Radio 1 Xtra) and Esa Williams after their hugely popular appearances at last year's festival.

The 'Trenchtown' area of the festival site will also see acclaimed DJs from Merseyside and further afield providing festival-goers with a wide variety of music as they peruse the 80+ stalls and traders and enjoy relaxing with food and drink at the Oye Inn.

Africa Oye 2015 Live Line-Up

Omar (UK)

Frankie Paul (Jamaica)

BKO Quintet (Mali)

Diabel Cissokho (Senegal)

Gordon Masiala and NKA Musica (DR Congo)

Lindigo (Réunion)

Derito (Angola)

Sarabi (Kenya)

Cumbia All Stars (Peru)

Modou Toure & Ramon Goose (Senegal/UK)

For full artist/DJ bios and images or for more information on this year's Oye Village and Trenchtown (including the 80+ stalls and traders on-site) please visit africaoye.com 

Africa Oye Announces Full Live Line-Up - Including Reggae Legend Frankie Paul

Africa Oye Announces Full Live Line-Up - Including Reggae Legend Frankie Paul

The UK’s largest, free African and Caribbean music festival Africa Oyé will grace Sefton Park once again this summer and organisers have now revealed the full main stage line-up for the event.

New additions to the line-up include dancehall reggae legend Frankie Paul and  Kenya's own Sarabi as well as Modou Toure and Ramon Goose who will bring their West African Blues Project to Sefton Park for the masses. The African disapora will also be well represented again  this year with Peru's Cumbia All Stars being added to the bill.

Frankie Paul is often referred to as Jamaica's Stevie Wonder, and not just because of his visual impairment. Like Wonder, he is a talented multi-instrumentalist with a tremendous vocal range. He was also an extraordinarily prolific part of the first wave of dancehall artists; he started his recording career in earnest during the early 80s and has since flooded the market with product, releasing countless singles and well over 30 albums.

To keep Sefton Park buzzing in between the live artists, Africa Oye is very pleased to welcome back DJ Edu (BBC Radio 1 Xtra) and Esa Williams after their hugely popular appearances at last year's festival. In the coming weeks, Oye will also be announcing one more special guest set for the festival weekend, bringing a particular legendary British DJ and broadcaster to the festival for the first time.

Now in its 23rd year, Africa Oye attracted record crowds of around 80,000 across the festival weekend in 2014 to the two-day, family friendly city event.

Artistic Director, Paul Duhaney is particularly pleased at the variety of acts set to grace the Sefton Park stage in 2015. “ I think this year's line-up really sums up what Oye is musically all about" Duhaney said. "We've got Africa and the wider diaspora, the Caribbean, South America and the UK all represented by stellar artists who will no doubt make lots of new fans in Liverpool this year. Let's hope for more of last year's weather; either way we're in for another fantastic festival".

The main stage acts will be complemented by the usual eclectic 'Oyé Village' featuring an array of foods from across the globe, traders, DJs, dance classes and workshops in the Active Zone, as well as kids entertainment to keep Sefton Park buzzing throughout the festival weekend. The main stage support acts and community performances will also be announced very soon.

Africa Oye 2015 Live Line-Up

Omar (UK)

Frankie Paul (Jamaica)

BKO Quintet (Mali)

Diabel Cissokho (Senegal)

Gordon Masiala and NKA Musica (DR Congo)

Lindigo (Réunion)

Derito (Angola)

Sarabi (Kenya)

Cumbia All Stars (Peru)

Modou Toure and Ramon Goose (Senegal/UK)

Africa Oye Announces More Acts For June Festival In Sefton Park

Africa Oye Announces More Acts For June Festival In Sefton Park

Africa Oye 2015

Sefton Park, Liverpool

Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st June 2015

12:30pm - 9:30pm both days /Admission: FREE

Funded by Arts Council England and Liverpool City Council 

The UK’s largest, free African music festival Africa Oye will grace Sefton Park once again this summer and organisers have added 3 more globally acclaimed acts to the line-up.

Congolese pop star Gordon Masiala will return to Oye for the first time since 2009, bringing his brand of high tempo Soukous, Rumba, Salsa and Afro-Cuban music to Liverpool once again.

He will be joined in Sefton Park by one of Angola's most decorated performers - Derito. The author, composer, singer, guitarist and music producer has a career spanning nearly 40 years and is sure to be one of the stand-out performers this June.

And rounding off this latest wave of acts is Senegalese musician Diabel Cissokho - part of the great line of Cissokho griots. well established in the UK, Diabel’s virtuosic talent, his “resonant voice and rocking kora style” (Songlines), have been welcomed everywhere from WOMAD and Glastonbury to London’s Barbican, where he performed alongside legends such as Femi Kuti.

These 3 acts will take their place alongside the likes of UK soul star Omar, Mali's own BKO Quintet and  Lindigo, hailing from Reunion Island. The final acts are set to be announced in April.

Now in its 23rd year, Africa Oye attracted record crowds of around 80,000 in 2014 to the two-day, family friendly city event.

Artistic Director, Paul Duhaney is excited at the challenge of following 2014's record-breaking event. “I'm so glad to be able to bring back Gordon Masiala after his last show here 6 years ago. Along with Diabel and Derito this is a great second wave of artists and I can't wait to reveal who else we've got lined up” .

The main stage acts will be complemented by the usual eclectic 'Oyé Village' featuring an array of foods from across the globe, traders, DJs, dance classes and workshops in the Active Zone, as well as kids entertainment to keep Sefton Park buzzing throughout the festival weekend.

*AMENDMENT: Sadly due to unforseen circumstances, Ibibio Sound Machine will not be performing at Oye 2015*

http://www.africaoye.com/

Africa Oye Announces First Acts For 2015 Festival In Sefton Park

Africa Oye Announces First Acts For 2015 Festival In Sefton Park

Africa Oye 2015

Sefton Park, Liverpool

Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st June 2015

12:30pm - 9:30pm both days /Admission: FREE

Funded by Arts Council England and Liverpool City Council 

The UK’s largest, free African music festival Africa Oye will grace Sefton Park once again this summer and organisers have unveiled the first 3 acts of a globally acclaimed line up for the event, including UK soul legend Omar.

Now in its 23rd year, Africa Oye attracted record crowds of around 80,000 in 2014 to the two-day, family friendly city event, and the team are excited to reveal the first 3 acts for this year's festival.

There are precious few, if any contemporary UK artists whose creative credentials and influence extend as far and so consistently wide as Omar. Since first breaking through to worldwide renown all the way back in 1991 with his first releases on Gilles Peterson's seminal Talkin' Loud label, Omar has gone on to work with all manner of musical legends including a certain Stevie Wonder. His original techniques have garnered him a strong legion of followers in the UK and a devoted fan base in diverse regions across the world.

In addition to Omar, the festival has announced two more acts that will grace the Sefton Park stage in June - Malian stars BKO Quintet and Reunion Island's Lindigo.

All the members of Mali’s BKO Quintet grew up with the music and culture of their ancestors, both the hunters and the griots. They bring together those separate traditions and the result is a unique sound that lives up to the album’s modern title, creating a new tradition of Malian music.

Lindigo is fronted by the charasmatic, Olivier Arasta, committed champion for continued development of 'maloya' - Reunion Island's vibrant symbol of creole culture whose strident vocal calls, chanted responses and complex percussion rhythms originated with the slaves brought to work on the sugar plantations and became a weapon of resistance, banned until the 1980s.

Artistic Director, Paul Duhaney is excited at the challenge of following 2014's record-breaking event. “Last year was a really special Oyé, there's no doubt about that. I'm really looking forward to revealing the rest of our line-up for 2015 and proving that we can follow it with another spectacular festival” 

The main stage acts will be complemented by the usual eclectic 'Oyé Village' featuring an array of foods from across the globe, traders, DJs, dance classes and workshops in the Active Zone, as well as kids entertainment to keep Sefton Park buzzing throughout the festival weekend.

Africa Oye 2015 in Liverpool dates set for 20th and 21st June

Africa Oye 2015 in Liverpool dates set for 20th and 21st June

Africa Oyé returns to Liverpool in 2015, following record audiences last summer. The finest artists from across Africa, the Caribbean and the wider diaspora will be joined by the usual eclectic 'Oyé Village' featuring an array of traders, workshops and kids entertainment to keep Sefton Park buzzing throughout the festival weekend.

Artistic Director, Paul Duhaney is excited at the challenge of following 2014's record-breaking event. “Last year was a really special Oyé, there's no doubt about that. I'm really looking forward to revealing our line-up for 2015 and proving that we can follow it with another spectacular festival”.

Africa Oyé 2015 will take place in Liverpool's Sefton Park on Saturday 20th and 21st of June. Entrance, as always, will be FREE and more details will be revealed soon.

For more information please visit the official Oyé  website 

Africa Oyé, the UK's largest free celebration of African music and culture, takes place annually in Liverpool. Beginning in 1992 as a series of small gigs in the city centre, the event has gone from strength to strength, moving to its present Sefton Park home in 2002 to cope with demand. Oyé attracts artists from right across Africa as well as South America and the Caribbean.

Foxes, Neon Jungle and Richard Rawson confirmed to perform at LIMF 2014

Foxes, Neon Jungle and Richard Rawson confirmed to perform at LIMF 2014

LIMF Summer Jam presents Summer Sessions with 107.6 Juice FM

Foxes, Neon Jungle and Richard Rawson confirmed to perform

LIMF is proud to announce three huge names for the Summer Sessions with 107.6 Juice FM in Sefton Park on Monday 25 August – part of the festival’s Summer Jam programme.

The new billing includes singer-songwriter Foxes, UK electro-pop girl group Neon Jungle and the formerly-known-as Fazer of N-Dubz, Richard Rawson.

Hailing from Southampton, Foxes (Louisa Rose Allen) rose to prominence when she featured on the dance track ‘Clarity’ – which went on to reach number eight in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and win the Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording. She’s a perennial top five artist and her recent album, ‘Glorious’, debuted at number five in the UK Album Chart, when it was released in May this year.

British four-piece girl group Neon Jungle reached number four in the UK Singles Chart in January, with their second single ‘Braveheart’ and have continued to rise and rise. With a packed festival scheduled, there is huge anticipation for the imminent release of their debut album Welcome to the Jungle.

English rapper, producer, DJ and songwriter Richard Rawson is best known for being one third of hip hop group N-Dubz (named Fazer). Having released three studio albums and won numerous MOBO awards with the group, he is now going solo to much acclaim.

The new acts join a line-up already full of incredible artists from legends to the hottest new talent including Marsha Ambrosius, Lemar,The Hoosiers, M.O, Tea Street Band and Ghostchant.

Summer Sessions with 107.6 Juice FM will take place on the Central Stage in Sefton Park on August Bank Holiday Monday (25 August) and will be free of charge.

Graham Sarath, 107.6 Juice FM Station Director, said: “We’re delighted for Juice to be the radio partner for LIMF again - it has already become one of the key dates in the Liverpool diary. The strength of the line-up across the whole festival, including our own main stage at Summer Jam on Bank Holiday Monday, is testament to the pull of such a well ran event”

Yaw Owusu, the curator of LIMF, said: “We’re really looking forward to the Summer Sessions stage this year. We’ve got a fantastic mix of legends, current chart toppers and newbies – crossing all genres from Pop to Soul to Electronica. This, in addition to the acts playing on the other stages, means that Liverpool’s Sefton Park is, once again, going to be the only place to be on August Bank Holiday Monday.”

For the latest information go to www.limfestival.com, follow @LIMFestival or like Liverpool International Music Festival on Facebook.

Liverpool International Music Festival 2014 - Bands-stand Out From the Crowd

Local musicians are being encouraged to showcase their talent and bepart of Liverpool’s International Music Festival.

The Liverpool International Music Festival (LIMF) will host two bandstand stages, LIMF Bandstand – in Sefton Park, and Stanley Park.  Bands, soloists and choirs of all ages and genres will take part and and wow audiences with their talent.

LIMF Bandstand will launch on the weekend of 12/13 July, to coincide with ‘Our Big Gig,’ a UK-wide celebration of community music. On Saturday (12 July), a number of acts, including Futurejack and Lunacorona, will take to the stage in Sefton Park, whilst on Sunday (13July), it will be the bandstand in Stanley Park that hosts performers such as Got Skills (from The Netherlands), Capilore (from Japan) and Anfield Community Arts Dance Group.

Following the launch weekend, performances willtake place every Thursday at Stanley Park and every Sunday at Sefton Park from 3 August until 7 September.

In 2013, LIMF Bandstand saw almost 162 acts take part over the 26 days, with a mix of professional and amateurperformers aged from 14 to 70 years old. The diverse line-up included 2012 MOBO Unsung Award winner, Esco Williams, Sense of Sound Choir (who will be performing as part of the main festival this year), Natalie McCool (Liverpool Music Awards Female Artist of the Year) and many more.

Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson said: “Last year’s LIMF Bandstand was a huge success with almost 600 performers given the opportunity to take part. Providing a platform for local talent is a key priority for LIMF and LIMF Bandstand plays an integral part in this.

“It will be wonderful to see two of our park bandstands being made the most of throughout the summer – green spaces and live music is a great combination, and, fingers crossed, if we can add some sunshine to that it will be the perfect day out!”

The launch weekend will see over 10 performances take place on the two bandstand stages, including Brouhaha International acts and Mic Lowry and form part of ‘Our Big Gig,’ England’s biggest free community music festival. 

Katharine Lane, Director at Superact said: “Our Big Gig is a great way to kick off LIMF Bandstand as it puts the spotlight on local talent. Music is a great way tobring people and communities together and that’s exactly what we want to achieve with Our Big Gig.

“As Our Big Gig grew out of our London 2012 Bandstand Marathon project, it’s fantastic to be involved with an event that is making use of these wonderful community performance spaces.”

Other great performances throughout LIMF Bandstand will include Splintered Ukes, Dominic Dunn, and Onyx Brass. Last year saw the likes of Sophia Ben-Yousef and Tyler Mensah take to the Bandstands and go on to win the LIMF Academy Ones to Watch and secure themselves slots on the ‘Its Liverpool Stage’ at LIMF Summer Jam. Natalie McCool also performed at LIMF Bandstand last year and is this year featuring as part of the massive Steve Levine’s Assembly Point Sessions at St George’s Hall! So get along to LIMF Bandstand and see the acts of the future!

It’s not just musicians who are being asked to get involved. Artists and art organisations have been invited to use the bandstands to highlight their work and raise their profile in the city. One Latin Culture and Brouhaha are both programming line-ups for LIMF Bandstand this year.

Yaw Owusu, LIMF’s Music Curator, said: “A major element of LIMF is about celebrating and inspiring the next generation of musicians and artists – which is why LIMF Bandstand is so important. Local performers will be given a fantastic opportunity to be part of the festival and showcase their skills to a new audience.

It also offers something different for our visitors. At one end of the spectrum, we have some of the biggest and best names in the industry and at the other; the audience can experience a much more intimate gig as music is stripped back to its acoustic roots.”

LIMF Bandstand is commissioned by Liverpool City Council and co-ordinated by Open Culture who aim to engage members of the public with art and culture. LIMF Bandstand is part of Joe Anderson’s, Mayor of Liverpool, strategy to animate parks.

The launch of LIMF Bandstand will take place on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 July. The line-up includes:

Saturday 12 July 2014 (1pm to 5pm, Sefton Park)

Futurejack

Lunacorona

Balance Vocal Studio - performance & workshop

MiC Lowry

The Lotharios 

Sunday 13 July 2014 (1pm to 5pm, Stanley Park)

Got Skills (Netherlands)

Barefeet Zambia

Capilore (Japan)

Got Skills (Netherlands)

Capilore (Japan)

Anfield Community Arts Dance Group

Anfield Community Arts Samba Band

Artscape Youth Jazz Band (South Africa)

Junkanoo Commandos (Bahamas)

Circo Paral Fodor (Colombia)

KalentuRa (Netherlands)

For further information, visit www.limfestival.com/main/limf-bandstand/

For full listings of other Our Big Gigs visit www.ourbiggig.co.uk

Africa Oyé Celebrates Record Crowds At 2014 Festival

 (Image courtesy of Tim Edwards)

Africa Oyé Celebrates Record Crowds At 2014 Festival

Africa Oyé - the UK's biggest and FREE annual festival of African and Caribbean culture and music - celebrated record crowds of between 70,000 and 80,000 people across the weekend at its 2014 event.

In typical Oyé fashion, the masses in Sefton Park were an eclectic mix of every age, race, colour and creed, all brought together to celebrate in one of Liverpool's most beautiful environments. Oyé's Artistic Director, Paul Duhaney said that this year's festival was 'beyond his wildest dreams'.

"Seeing so many people from all walks of life smiling and dancing and generally having a good time was just a dream come true for all of us involved in the festival" Duhaney said."It's what the Africa Oyé movement is all about".

The family-friendly festival was headlined by a fantastic set from Finley Quaye on a warm Sunday evening and also featured sets from acts across Africa and the wider diaspora, including Mose 'Fan Fan' and Jupiter and Okwess International from DR Congo, reggae legends Misty In Roots and an homage to the late Somalian legend, Magool featuring vocalist Farxiya Fiska.

There was also a local flavour to the performances as Liverpool's own percussion troupe Beatlife took to the stage on Saturday and as Toxteth-based BrazUKa presented a vibrant performance of music and dance on the Sunday.

Providing the beats in between the main stage acts were South Africa's own DJ Esa and BBC Radio 1Xtra's DJ Edu - both proving big hits in their first Oyé appearances.

The Oyé Active Zone was incredibly popular throughout the weekend with festival-goers of all ages taking part in free workshops - learning skills in music, dance, percussion and singing. The Active Zone was hosted by Movema and also featured teachers from Merseyside Dance Initiative.

On top of all the music and dance there was a whole host of stalls and food for the audience to enjoy as well as some brand new additions for 2014 - a kids' funfair and the 'Trenchtown' area, which featured the Oyé Inn, Caribbean cuisine and more DJ sets in a chilled, relaxed setting.

It was the first year since Oyé's founder, Kenny Murray retired from the organisation and handed over the artistic reigns to long-time colleague, Paul Duhaney. The new Director dedicated the event to Murray in this year's programme:

"Few would have imagined that Kenny would succeed in building an annual celebration of Africa that is now the biggest of its kind in the country and one that is attended by people from all walks of life" Duhaney, said. "We dedicate Oyé 2014 to this unique man whose 'crazy dream' has become this amazing reality".

Africa Oyé would like to extend their thanks to its funders, sponsors, partners, supporters and of course, the Oyé audience, for helping to ensure the festival remains free and open to all.

For more information on Africa Oyé and Oyé Touring & Trading, check out the links below:

africaoye.com / facebook.com/africaoye / @africaoye #africaoye

Africa Oye 2014 Announces DJ Edu and Esa Williams Headliners

Africa Oyé are proud to announce that DJ Edu and Esa are their headline DJs for this year’s festival to be held in Liverpool's Sefton Park on the weekend of the 21st and 22nd of June.

BBC Radio 1Xtra's Edu will be DJing on the main stage between acts on the Sunday whilst South Africa's own Esa Williams will take the reigns on the Saturday. Oye's Artistic Director,Paul Duhaney is excited at the prospect of both men taking the stage in 2014:

"I had the pleasure of spending time with both Edu and Esa in Uganda at the Doadoa festival earlier this year as part of a visit to the country with the British Council" Duhaney said. "Edu has been championing African music in the UK for the last decade and his Radio 1Xtra show is doing a great job of getting these sounds out to a wide audience. I've also been a fan of Esa's work for some time now and it's great that such a talented South African DJ will be at the festival this year."

With his mesmerising signature mash-up style, DJ Edu has undoubtedly played a major role in fuelling the love of African music worldwide in Europe and worldwide and is widely considered the leading DJ name in Afrobeats.

Having established his name in clubs and the party scene across Nairobi and surrounding East African cities throughout the nineties the Kenyan born DJ emigrated to the UK at the turn of the millennium carrying the 1999 Kenya Mixing and Scratching Championships trophy and immediately set to building his brand in new shores. Within 2 years he had cemented his name as the number 1 DJ amongst the East African communities across the UK winning further accolades and club residencies in African clubs.

His work was noted in this sector and in mid-2002 BBC Radio 1Xtra approached him to help format their African music output and soon were broadcasting his mixes nationally during the station’s transmission test phases. In 2005, 1Xtra secured his services on a permanent basis offering him his own show showcasing the sound of young Africa – DestiNation Africa. The show that features music from across West, East, North and South Africa become an immediate success and became the first point of call for those seeking urban genres from and influenced by the diverse continent. For many today DestiNation Africa is the earliest recollection of hearing the sound and scene we now call Afrobeats. He continues to be the pan-BBC face, name and brand that represents young Africa and he has narrated and curated many African music documentaries and projects  for numerous platforms.

Esa Williams recent arrival in London will be a loss to his adopted city of Glasgow, where, for the past 7 years he played a valuable role in the city’s thriving music scene. By day, providing a helping hand with many of his fellow producers in the city, conducting workshops on behalf of Ableton, Red Bull Music Academy and Apple. By night, rocking any dancefloor worthwhile being on when he plays his unique and contagious take on house music.

An integral part of the Auntie Flo live set up, he has played at Europe’s leading venues and festivals. His music has also taken him as far away as Cuba and right back to his motherland of South Africa.

Having shared the bill with everyone from Julio Bashmore to Richie Hawtin, Shangaan Electro to Scuba; such is the diversity of his energetic sets which take the listener on a trip between deep melodic house to jackin’ machine funk. It’s no surprise that he’s been championed by publications including XLR8R and Resident Advisor – bagging the coveted ‘Mix of the Day’ accolade with his Afro-Futurism mix for Fabric.

Trenchtown DJ Line-Up

In addition to the main stage DJs, Africa Oyé - in collaboration with Beaten Tracks - have arranged a host of DJs from Liverpool and beyond to play in the new Trenchtown area of the festival.  The lineup includes NO Fakin DJs, Banana Hill DJs, One A Penny, Chris McBride, Zacharia Soul, Carnivalesque, DJ Mayeva, George Luke, Keith Marley, Red Kits, Beaten Tracks, and Schmame DJs Jamie and Leo feat. Original Princial B.

For full-line up please see below:

Liverpool International music festival hits right note for 2014

THE Liverpool International Music Festival (LIMF) returns in August with some of the biggest names in the music industry.

More than 200 acts representing 20 countries will wow audiences with around 150 hours of live music throughout the event, which runs from Friday 15 until Saturday 31 August. 

Across the sixteen days, there will be performances from Boy George, Shaggy, Tim Burgess (The Charlatans), Goldie, The Hoosiers, Kid Creole, Lemar, The Farm, John Power (Cast and La’s) and multi-Grammy nominee Marsha Ambrosius.

The August bank holiday weekend will see Sefton Park play host to LIMF Summer Jam.  It kicks off with Ian Broudie and The Lightning Seeds joining the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra in a special concert hosted by Classic FM which takes place on Friday 22 August.

From Saturday to Monday, the Central Stage will have different themes: Saturday – British Invasion; Sunday – World Music; Monday – Summer Sessions with Juice FM.

As well as Central Stage there are four other music areas:

     The it’s liverpool Stage with BBC Radio Merseyside will showcase the next musical trailblazers to come from Liverpool, as well as celebrate the legends of the city’s music scene.

      The International Emerging Sounds Stage will host artists from around the globe who are making names for themselves with their creative and individual approach to music which is earning them deserved world-wide recognition.

      The LIMF Bandstand will give a platform to local unsigned talent ranging from bands and soloists, covering a variety of musical genres.

      The LIMF Academy will showcase fifteen of the region’s hottest up and coming young acts. 

One of the key aims of this year is to create never before seen or heard music performances via a series of LIMF Commissions. LIMF has engaged a number of celebrated artistic directors to work with various artists from different musical backgrounds and genres to create music magic under the theme of World Firsts By Collaboration. This will see four very special commissions by LIMF, all of which will be ticketed events:

       Steve Levine’s Assembly Point Sessions – Taking place on 21 August at St George’s Hall, the award winning producer will direct a number of solo artists along with an all-star band in a unique collaboration. To date, collaborators include Tim Burgess, Pete Wylie and Bernard Butler. The evening will also see a full headline set from Boy George. 

       Migration Music – The Everyman will play host to Liverpool’s Sense of Sound choir which will collaborate with internationally renowned beatboxer Shlomo, in a voice only performance which invites the audience to travel through significant moments in music history.  This will take place on 28 and 29 August.

      You Are Here – Symbolically representing the countries that made up the Triple Entente (the United Kingdom, France and Russia), You Are Here will consist of musicians exploring what home means to them. Created by the force behind SevenStreets, David Lloyd, the piece will premiere at LIMF on 23 August in Sefton Park’s Palm House.

      Minor Characters – Music manager Chris Bye and The Quietus, one of the most respected music and culture websites in the world, will bring together six artists to create an original body of work which will be released digitally through The Quietus label. Participants include GIT Award 2014 winner Forest Sword, as well as the likes of East India Youth and Luke Abbott. It will take place at The Kazimier on Friday 29 August.

Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson, said: “We were overwhelmed by the response to the inaugural LIMF last year, and today, people still tell me that the Sefton Park gigs were the highlight of their summer.

“There’s more of a focus on the park this year, and without a doubt, it will be the place to be during the August bank holiday for all the family.

“The diverse music on offer ranges from internationally renowned artists through to home grown talent and some of the best bands paying tribute to iconic acts. 

“There aren’t many other cities in the UK which put on hours and hours of high quality live music – the majority of which is completely free.

“As we saw in 2013, LIMF is a fresh approach to music festivals and I’m positive this year will be just as impressive and shine a spotlight on Liverpool’s music credentials.”

LIMF’s Music Curator, Yaw Owusu, said: “This year is all about progression. LIMF Summer Jam's line up is really strong and with the addition of the International Emerging Stage and the Academy area, I know we are raising the bar - and we haven't even finished the line-ups yet.

"The LIMF Commissions are all about us creating and showcasing original music works and performances that have never been seen anywhere in the world before. I'm really excited about this element and overwhelmed with the calibre of musicians and artistic directors involved so far.”

Musician Ian Broudie said: “I’m delighted to be playing at Liverpool International Music Festival this year. The combination of the band and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra in Sefton Park on a sunny August evening should make for a magical event.”

To launch LIMF 2014, local artist Marc Lewis, has created a special mural on giant letters at St George’s Hall. The finishing touches will be made at 10am on Thursday 15 May, revealing some of the line-up.  

Marc said: “I am incredibly excited to be involved with the launch of LIMF. 

“Last year's I was lucky enough to contribute a three-piece mural painting to the LIMF Pop-Up Art Gallery which featured many of the acts involved. Since then we have discussed the possibilities of doing a much larger mural, which the public could come along and watch unfold in real time. 

“There has always been such a strong connection between music and art particularly here in Liverpool and my hope is that this project will engage the public whilst at the same time inspiring the next generation of artists and musicians from this great city.” 

Highlights of this year’s festival:

Thursday 21 August

Grammy winning producer Steve Levine will artistically direct the project that will see a number of top British music artists use traditional and new technology to collaborate together for an exclusive performance at the historic St George’s Hall. Featured performers include Boy George, Tim Burgess and Pete Wylie. This is a ticketed event.

LIMF Summer Jam, Friday 22 August, 7.30-9.30pm 

Ian Broudie and The Lightning Seeds will join the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra for a stunning joint performance in the beautiful surroundings of Sefton Park. Free event.

LIMF Summer Jam, Saturday 23 August, midday-6pm

Central Stage is all about the British Invasion with acts playing tribute to bands that broke America including The Beatles, the Rolling Stones and The Who. The International Emerging Sounds Stage features Jamaica’s Stylo G, Japan’s WordySoulSpeak and Iceland’s Samaris. Free event.

LIMF Summer Jam, Sunday 24 August, midday-6pm

Shaggy, Kid Creole and Goldie are just some of the acts to take to the Central Stage while the it’s liverpool stage will play host to Wirral based indie rock band By The Sea along with the winners of the 2013 LIMF Academy One to Watch award Tyler Mensah and Sophia Ben-Yousef. Free event.

           LIMF Summer Jam, Monday 25 August, midday-7pm

Juice FM will programme several artists yet to be announced, but across the park stages there will be performances from Lemar, The Hoosiers, Marsha Ambrosius, The Farm, John Power and Rustie, with a back to back DJ set with Kanye West producer Evian Christ. Free event

LIMF Summer Jam, Saturday 23-Monday 25 August, midday-5pm

The LIMF Academy returns for a second time which aims to inspire the next generation of musicians and performers.  Aimed at 13-21 year olds there will be workshops, performance opportunities and master classes by some of the industry’s leading music experts. Free event

Other events that make up the programme include International Beatle Week, Summer Camp, Above The Beaten Track and BOILER ROOM: CIRCUS x Liverpool International Music Festival.

For the latest information, follow @LIMFestival or like Liverpool International Music Festival on Facebook. 

Africa Oye Reveals full Line Up For 2014 Festival

It’s been a busy Summer at Africa Oyé HQ! With more globally acclaimed artists to announce, Africa Oyé won the 'Inspiration Award' at Liverpools GIT award ceremony last month and Songlines magazine have also named Africa Oyé as one of their Top 10 UK Summer Festivals for the 5th year running!

This year Africa Oyé will be bigger and better than ever! The family-friendly event features workshops, Oyé Active Zone, DJ tent, world cuisine and Oyé Traders Market on top of the sterling main stage line up.

Now in its 22nd year, Africa Oyé attracted over 30,000 in 2013 to the two-day, family friendly city event, and the team are over the moon with this year’s line up. Finley Quaye will headline the Sunday night and is joined over the festival weekend by an eclectic mix of artists, detailed below:

The Artists

Rising to fame in the 90’s, Finley Quaye's sound made waves across the globe and he topped the UK charts with hIts like ‘Even After All’ and ‘Sunday Shining’. His debut album Maverick A Strike was an instant success racking up multi platinum record sales. Quaye (whose relatives include Afrobeat purveyor Femi Kuti and trip hop star Tricky) will play a mix of classic and new material when he brings his warm Sunshine sounds to the stage.

Jupiter and Okwess International have a unique story; Jupiter was born into a family of griots from the Mongo region. His grandmother was a renowned healer and she taught him how to play traditional rhythms to heal the sick at a young age. As a teen his family moved to Berlin, where he collaborated with European musicians before returning to the Congo. A documentary about his musical exploration called “The Dance of Jupiter” was released in 2007 and his album Hotel Universe was released last year to critical acclaim. Jupiter also collaborated with Damon Albarn to feature on the album “Kinhasa One Two” in 2011.

Also joining the bill are London based Cuban 9-piece band Wara, playing a mix of latin funk, hip hop and rumba. Bending genres with gusto, band members hail from across the globe; from Argentinia to Spain and this unique mix defines them.

Next up on the bill is HAJAmadagascar and The Groovy People who create Afro trance, in a project that gathers musicians from across Africa and the Diaspora. Rooted in Malagasy tradition (the spiritual music of Madagascar) the charismatic groups live show delivers immense energy, and is a must-see education for music lovers!

'Homage To Magool' feat. Farxiya Fiska, brings together some of the leading contemporary Somali singers living in the UK to present the music of their country’s most popular singer, Magool. 2014 marks the 10th anniversary of the death of the Somali legend, and this performance will feature Farxiya Fiska - the first Somali artist to have Youtube hits exceeding 1 million – amongst others, paying tribute to her legacy.

Also added to the bill are Joe Driscoll and Sekou Kouyate, one a hip hop extraordinaire from New York and the other a West African maestro. The expression “music is a common language” has never been more apt. US-born Driscoll speaks no French and Kouyate, who hails from the West African country of Guinea, little English. When they were brought together at the Nuit Metis (Mixed Night) festival in Marseille, France in 2010 and given a week to produce a concert, music was the only way they could communicate. They have since formed a band, recorded an album, and performed over 120 concert dates across Europe to rave reviews. Driscoll and Kouyate are mindblowing; blending hip-hop, spoken word, funk, and soulful, accessible rock with Afrobeat, reggae and irrepressible African grooves.

Mose 'Fan Fan' will also grace the stage at Oyé 2014. One of the original purveyors of ‘world music’ in the UK, Mose began his career in the 60s and is one of the ‘grand old men’ of African music in Europe. A central figure in the burgeoning area of 'world music' in the UK in the 80s, it is with great pride that Oye welcomes him to the festival for the first time in 2014.

Afrobeat star Abdoulaye Samb and Minnjiaraby hails from Senegal and brings sunshine sounds to Liverpool this summer. Another sterling addition to the line up includes Abdul Tee-Jay’s Rokoto from Sierra Leone, to truly get the Sefton Park stage rocking under the feet of such globally acclaimed talent.